A controversial issue also surrounds Julian himself. Many people consider him as an ignorant dangerous man who puts too much information online endangering lives and possibly compromising national security. At the same time there are many who praise and encourage Julian to pursue his mission of information transparency and keeping governments open/accountable. Personally, I am undecided also. Julian is exposing too much information in my opinion and this puts many people at risk. Some information are better kept secret because unveiling them may only do more harm then good. People might go crazy if they discover some information that seriously affected them in a negative way. Of course such things should not have occurred and such information should not exist anyways but the matter of the fact is the world is corrupt in one way or another.
On the other hand I support his mission to keep governments, institutions, businesses and people accountable for their actions. Today, corporations and businesses have too much influence on our governments, politicians and media; therefore affecting citizens and defeating the purpose of a government. The people need to capture their media and voice back to use to keep institutions liable for their actions.
I encourage Mr. Assange and whistle-blowers to continue. Specifically I request that some whistle-blowers send in information regarding the "Secret War" that occurred from 1955 to 1975. Let me explain to you why. The United States' CIA recruited Hmong villagers, led under General Vang Pao, to help them fight against the spread of communist and rescue US soldiers during the Vietnam War. Many sacrificed their lives and left their families to become "guerrilla fighters" to intercept enemy lines and gear transportation routes. They were told to fight the enemy without knowing that one day many will be left stranded behind in a war torn country only to be hunted down like animals in the jungle of which used to be their home. Some were lucky enough to come to the promise land which was then known as the US, but this further separated families and left many behind to pay for the consequence in the form of genocide. Here is a short clip from Youtube and I warn you of gruesome images:
As of today what does the US or UN do? Nothing. What the heck! Why? As mentioned before it is a "Secret War" and the US plans to keep it a secret. General Vang Pao, who the CIA recruited to gather thousands of Hmong and train them into guerrilla units, just recently passed away. For all that he has done for the CIA, costing the lives of so many Hmong and Laotians who fought alongside US soldiers, he was still rejected from the Arlington National Cemetery dedicated to recognizing US combat veterans. The ridiculous decision by the Pentagon was because space was limited. In reality, the US wants to keep this "Secret War" a secret. Even the movie Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood involving Hmong families, actors, and culture try to keep the war a secret. The movie was subtitled into English whenever Hmong was spoken, but one scene was not subtitled. That scene consisted of a Hmong woman talking about the "Secret War." Obviously the intent was so no other ethnicity can hear about it except the Hmong who already knew about it.
"What the heck!"
Only through transparency of such information by WikiLeaks can we ever hold the government responsible for what they do and not do.
Nice Post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about what's happening for the minorities.
To me, I am more of a proponent of WikiLeaks idea. I believe that governments, institutions and business have to be liable for their actions. Especially, government and political leaders' actions have to be transparent as they are responsible for their citizens, but not their own desires. Hopefully, they will be alert that nothing can be secret forever and stop being evil.